Community Resources

Santa Clara County Election Information

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If you voted by mail before, your voting process will be mostly the same under the Voter’s Choice Act.

Now all voters will automatically receive a Vote by Mail (VBM) ballot. You do not need to submit a VBM request.  Ballots will be mailed about a month before the election, giving you plenty of time to mark and return your ballot when it is most convenient for you.  Please VOTE EARLY if you can.

However, if you need to request a ballot, such as a change of address, contact:

  1. Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112
  2. Toll Free 1 (866) 430-VOTE (8683) – Fax 1 (408) 293-6002
  3. Or submit the application on-line at: sccvote.org

By October 6 the following sites should be updated with complete detailed information:

Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters November Election web page: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Info/Nov2020/Pages/Nov2020Info.aspx (most detailed information will be available 29 days before the election, so on Oct 6)

AARP Web Site AARP.org: The state guides will be featured in the September and October Bulletins and via aarp.org/election2020 (when they are available)

Santa Clara County (sccgov.org) Verify your own registration status (on-line or via telephone), Voter Information Guide (will be available at https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Voting/Pages/INFOpamphlet.aspx, available by Oct. 6).

Community Service … Leona Fails

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The Psychological Tricks of Covid-19 Scammers:  While we are isolated by the virus, more people are vulnerable to deception.  The AARP Bulletin lists 4 ways to turn the tables on scammers:

1. Cut them off.

2. End suspicious online friendships.

3. Cultivate your real friendships who can be sounding boards on unusual offers.

4. Do your homework.

Visit aarp.org/scams to learn about the latest coronavirus scams.

Restaurants Deliver: Home Meals for Seniors

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Governor Newsom announced Friday, April 24, the launch of a first-in-the-nation “Restaurants Deliver: Home Meals for Seniors” partnership with counties, cities, and Tribes.

Restaurants Deliver has two purposes:

• Help older and other adults at high risk from COVID-19 to stay home and stay healthy by delivering three nutritious meals a day, and

• Provide essential economic stimulus to local businesses and workers struggling to stay afloat during the COVID crisis.

As the local programs get established in the next few days, more information will be provided on this page. In the meantime, here are resources that are available now:

• Enter your location into 211.org to find local services, such as nutrition, financial, health care, and housing assistance. Every community has an Aging and Adult Info Line to connect to aging and adult services: 1-800-510-2020.

• Visit the California Department of Aging’s COVID-19 page for a list of resources for older and other at-risk adults.

• Do you suspect someone is being neglected or abused? Call Adult Protective Services at 833-401-0832.

• Suspect fraud? AARP has a Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360.

• Concerned about someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s or their caregiver? Call the Alzheimer’s Association: 800-272-3900.

Reach out to California’s COVID-19 hotline for questions about coronavirus: 833-422-4255 (833-4CA-4ALL).”

The link to the state web site is: https://covid19.ca.gov/restaurants-deliver-home-meals-for-seniors/

Community Service … Leona Fails

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While we are sheltering in place, check this out:  Homeowners who are 65+ can opt out of voter-approved parcel taxes for public school districts.  Visit your school district’s website to learn about and apply for an exemption.  The contact person and phone number for each district in Santa Clara County is available at http://www.sccdtac.org/pte.

A Doctor’s Coronavirus Advice … Ken Schieck

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1) NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.

2) Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc.. Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.

3) Open doors with your closed fist or hip – do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.

4) Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.

5) Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been.

6) Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home’s entrances. AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can’t immediately wash your hands.

7) If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!

What I have stocked in preparation for the pandemic spread to the US:

1) Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when going shopping, using the gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in contact with contaminated areas.

Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces where these droplets land are infectious for about a week on average – everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious. The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon.                                                     This virus only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs) The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.                                                          2) Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you – it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or mouth – it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.          3) Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile gloves (get the appropriate sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to be effective.           4) Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to feel ANY “cold-like” symptoms beginning. It is best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze   lozenges is one brand available, but there are other brands available.